Love Spell: Book 2 of The Grimm Laws (8 page)

There would be no wearisome meal with Queen Loreena tonight. She had an appointment to keep.

C
inderella slipped
out the postern door just as the last evening bell sounded. It had taken no small effort to slip unnoticed past the guards. Thankfully, Edward was keen on making sure that she knew her way around the castle. On one of his many tours, he’d shown her the postern door—the back door to the palace where people could come and go unnoticed. “Now, my dear Cinderella, ye know something that few people in the palace are privy to—my secret way in and out of the palace,” Edward had said. Thoughtful Edward, always looking out for her. Had it not been for the postern door, there was no way Cinderella could’ve made it out of the palace without being seen. Guilt washed over her. If Edward ever found out that she was slipping out of the palace to meet Rushton … heaven help her!

She pulled her velvet cloak close around her neck, grateful for the warmth it provided. The moon was full—a round of cheese on a black tablecloth—casting unnatural shadows across the path. It was late fall, but the promise of winter lingered in the moist, night air, causing her breath to come out in tiny puffs of smoke. Only when she got a safe distance away did she dare look over her shoulder and back at the castle. The white, stone walls shimmered in the moonlight. From this vantage point, the moat that spanned three-quarters of the castle looked like a glittering ebony serpent, encircling its prey. She suppressed a shiver and continued on.

It would be faster to travel the road, but she couldn’t risk being discovered. She would have to take the dark path through the trees. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought. Horse hooves thumped in the distance. Someone was coming! Her first instinct was to get off the road and crouch in the ditch until they passed, but she could see the entrance of the path just up ahead. She started running in order to reach the path before the horses overtook her. A few more steps! Blood rushing in her ears! Her heart pounding out of her chest! A few more steps! She reached the path and darted behind a tree just as the horses barreled past. Her breath was coming fast in the cold, making her chest hurt. What was she doing? Any reasonable person would turn around and go straight back to the palace. Even as she thought the words, she clutched her sweaty palms and headed for the Chapel of Westwood.

In the light of day, she loved walking through the forest, but on this night, the simplest of sounds were sinister. An owl hooting in the distance, a cluster of birds lifting from a nearby tree. The hair on her neck bristled. She quickened her pace until she was nearly running. The crack of a breaking branch stopped her cold, and she whirled around to see what was behind her. Her eyes scanned the dark forest, and she strained to hear the sound again. Nothing. She took off running full speed, her heart in her throat. She didn’t stop until she saw the dark walls of the chapel up ahead. Only when she stepped out into the clearing did she pause to catch a breath. No candlelight coming from the chapel windows, a good sign that the Vicar was sleeping. She scanned the grounds, relieved to find them empty.

She stole around the back of the chapel and saw him perched on a stone, his horse tethered to the nearby fence post. The moment he saw her, he stood and started running towards her.

“Rushton,” she uttered in relief.

He put a finger to her lips, urging her to be silent. He took her hand and pulled her to the edge of the trees. “’Tis safer here,” he whispered.

She nodded.

He looked down at her. “Cinderella, I was not sure if you would come … especially considering what happened at the ball.”

“I almost did not,” she admitted.

“I can hardly blame thee. When I think of the lengths my mother went to in order to keep us apart …” His jaw clenched.

She looked at him in surprise. “So you finally believe me.”

A tortured look darkened his eyes. “Aye, I should have never doubted thee. Of all people, you alone were true.”

The words settled like vinegar into her thirsty heart, giving her no comfort. What did it matter? The damage was done, and the outcome would be the same. She looked into his eyes. She’d dreamt of him so many times that it was hard to believe that he was really here. A thrill ran through her, and she attributed it to an aftereffect brought on from the terror of running through the forest even though she knew deep down that it was because she was standing so close to Rushton. He smelled of fresh pine and running waters. How easy it would be to get lost in those stormy-blue eyes that seemed to have a heightened excitement in them tonight.

He surprised her when he reached out and caressed the line of her jaw. The feel of his hand running down her cheek was a memory that she would hold in her heart. A memory that would carry her through a lifetime. “I have missed you,” he said, his voice husky with emotion.

“Rushton, do not do this.”

“Do not what? Love you? Asking me to stop loving you is like asking the sun to stop rising.” He gave her a slight smile.

Tears brimmed in her eyes. “Stop torturing me. We cannot change the past. We cannot stop the engagement. It has been written into The Grimm Laws. It is more permanent now than stone. You said so yourself! I must forget about you as you must forget about me.” Her voice broke as she put a hand over her mouth to control her emotions.

“There might be another way.”

Another way? Nay, she’d thought of all of the possible scenarios. “There is no other way,” she said flatly.

“Come with me.”

She froze.

“Come with me, Cinderella. We can leave this night and go to another kingdom where no one knows us. We can start a new life together.”

The words were like stones falling from the sky and pelting her. “Leave the kingdom?” Her mouth went dry. “But where would we go? How would we live?”

“I have a stash of gold hidden away. We will have everything we need.”

“We would be fugitives, always looking over our shoulders.”

He grasped her arms. “We will be together. Nothing could ever separate us again! Do you really want to contemplate a life of being apart?”

Her heart was being smashed to pieces. “A life without you is bleak and colorless,” she admitted. Could she do it? Could she leave everything and go away with him? The temptation to flee was so strong that it nearly took her breath away. Then for some inexplicable reason, an image of Edward flashed through her mind, followed by the manor. If she left, everything that remained of her father and mother would be sold to pay the debts. She shook her head. “I cannot leave.”

His face fell. “What? You love me.”

“I will always love you, Rushton.” Tears streamed freely down her face. “I love you with a pure love that can never be taken from me. A day will not pass when I will not think of you and what we had together.”

A furrow appeared between his brows. “If ye truly love me, then the choice should be simple.”

She could hear the edge in his voice and it caused a burst of anger to bubble in her chest. “Nay, leaving one’s home is never a simple decision. Furthermore, ‘tis not fair for you to keep popping in and out of my life! When I believed you to be dead, I mourned you. I was alone. My heart bled, but I had to make a hard decision, and then when you came back, it got even more complicated.” Her eyes pled with him to understand. “I cannot do this again. I made a commitment, and I have to stand by it.”

He scoffed. “A commitment? To whom? Edward?”

“Aye, to Edward, to the kingdom, to my family.”

His eyes went wide. “Thy family?” He let out a derisive laugh. “Seraphina and Josselyn? They are using thee, Cinderella.”

“‘Tis not only about them,” she countered defensively. “‘Tis about the manor and what my father spent his life trying to build.”

“You are prattling on about commitments to the kingdom and a father that has been dead since you were a child! This is foolishness! I love you, Cinderella, and you love me!”

“Love is not enough!” she slung back. “I need something constant, steady—something I can count on.”

He rocked back as the words sunk in. “Edward. You are speaking of Edward.”

She cringed at the condemnation in his eyes. He blew out a breath and raked his hands through his hair. “I can scarcely believe it. You are choosing Edward over me.”

“Nay, this is not about Edward. This is about commitment.”

“I love you heart and soul as Edward never will. Edward will always put the good of the kingdom before thee.” His tone became cutting. “You are merely a feather to him. A beautiful feather that he will keep tucked away in a glass case for the kingdom to admire. He is not worthy of thee.”

“Stop it!” She shook her head as her doubts rose up hideous and terrible, clutching her like a vice. Nay, it wasn’t true. Edward was kind and patient, willing to allow her the space she needed to develop and grow into her love for him whereas Rushton demanded her love like the river of fire that demanded that the earth part in its path. She took a step back from him and glanced around at the dark forest. “‘Tis late. I must get back to the castle before anyone realizes I am gone.”

“Edward will never have the depth to understand you, much less love you,” he muttered.

Her heart softened as she realized what was happening. He was hurting and therefore saying spiteful things. It was his impetuous behavior coming out.

She touched his arm. “Rushton, we haven’t much time. Do not let our last moment be one of sorrow.”

The haunted expression on his face pierced her heart.

“This is for the best.” She found the courage to voice the words that had been plaguing her. “You will find someone else to love. Someone to whom you can give your whole heart and soul.” Her voice broke. “You are the lucky one. At least you have a choice in the matter.”

“Will I now?” The words came out soft and mocking.

“Aye.” She bit her lip and looked away, trying to hold back the sob that was building in her chest. She was making the right choice, but it cut her to the core. She wouldn’t let him see her fall apart. She had to be strong for the both of them.

Silence shrouded them.

He gave her a hard look. “So, this is it then. This really is goodbye.”

“Aye,” she croaked. “This time, it really is goodbye.”

He seemed to reach a decision. “Very well.” His eyes locked with hers. “I will leave you alone and never bother you again.”

She was hearing the words, but they weren’t ringing true.

“That is what you want, is it not?”

“‘Tis the only way,” she said quietly.

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Okay,
princess
, thy wish is my command. I will not keep thee from thy prince any longer.” Accusation flashed in his eyes, sending a sharp burst of anger shooting through her. Her first instinct was to lash out at him, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

She gave him one last look, trying to commit his face to memory. “Goodbye, Rushton. I shall never forget thee,” she uttered, turning to walk away.

“Wait.”

She turned. “What?”

“Surely you do not expect me to give you over to Edward without getting something in return.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “What do you want?” she asked cautiously.

His eyes raked over her in a leisurely way that turned her knees to mush. “You know what I want,” he murmured. She hated the way her heart skipped a beat. Hated the power he had over her. Just thinking of Rushton’s lips on hers made her warm all over despite the cold.

“I am not doing this!” She really did start walking away this time, but he headed her off.

“One kiss. Give me one kiss before ye go.”

She gritted her teeth. “This is ludicrous! I am to be married … to the crown prince. Do you know what risk I took by simply coming here? What they would do to us if they found out we met here tonight?”

“One kiss, and I will go,” he said firmly. “For old time’s sake.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “Why do ye always have to make things so difficult?”

He chuckled. “Since when is kissing me difficult? You did not think it was difficult before.” A wicked light flickered in his eyes. “In fact, I think you rather enjoyed it.”

She looked at him, pleading. “I cannot. Rushton. I cannot take this anymore. Please … just let me go.” She turned away from him and forced herself to start walking.

“I could make thee come away with me.” Desperation coated his voice.

She stopped and turned. “What?”

“I could make thee come away with me,” he repeated harshly as a brazen expression came over his beautiful face. He held up a vial—a shimmering substance that seemed to contain the contents of glittering stars.

Her eyes were drawn to the sparkles, and she had to pull her eyes away from them. “What is that?” Warning bells sounded in her head as apprehension clawed up her spine.

“One drop of this, along with my mother’s love spell, and you will willingly go wherever I request.”

Fury ignited over her. “You wouldn’t!” The sparkling liquid caught her eye as if beckoning her to take a drink.

He thrust out his jaw. “Wouldn’t I? I love you, Cinderella, and you love me! I would do anything to keep you. ‘Tis magic that tore us apart, so I will use it to right the wrong and bring us back together.” There was a ruthless look in his eyes.

“Love spells are temporary.”
Just one drink
, the shimmering liquid seemed to whisper as the promise of something wonderful seeped into her pores.

“Aye, but the spell would work long enough for me to persuade thee to come away with me.”

She gave him a speculative look. “I do not believe you. You are bluffing. Your mother would never give you her potion and love spell. She hates me. ‘Tis thy mother who caused our troubles to begin with.”

“My mother owes me!” He let out a harsh laugh. “She did not want me to take the potion and love spell, for she says no good can come of it, but if it gets me you, then it is worth the risk. No risk is too great for you,” he finished meaningfully.

They stood there eyeing one another to see who would back down first. “Nay,” she finally said, straightening her shoulders. “You will not use a love spell against me. I would hate thee for it in the end.”